Fripp Island Homes for Sale

Luxury Interior Design Trends for 2018

Here on Fripp Island, we can hardly believe that 2017 is winding down already. Looking back at the year, we’ve seen some really interesting trends in luxury interior design; but looking ahead to next year, we’re really excited about how some of our favorite upcoming trends may play out. Everything in home design trend is cyclical, and after the past few years of modern design with clean lines and impersonal settings, we have a feeling we know what’s ahead for 2018. Here’s a look at some of our predictions for luxury interior design trends for next year that you may already see cropping up in open houses.

Cozy

Past luxe design trends have tended towards the super modern, with very clean lines, expensive furniture that was functional and non-impactful on the space, and colors like gray, black and white. This modern design was definitely partially a reaction to the cluttered, colorful spaces that we lived in in the 70s and 80s. Next year, Lushome predicts that we’ll see a return to cozy, moving away from clean, impersonality, with a totally different approach to design and décor.

Expect to see heightened awareness of comfort in 2018, with reading nooks in master bedrooms for a dedicated spot to unwind and recharge, living spaces that focus on human interaction rather than the television set—perhaps a fireplace will be located in its place—and kitchens that are more about comfort than stainless steel functionality.

Warm Colors

Remember the gray and black tones we mentioned from modern trends of the past? Expect to them to vanish, replaced with warmer, still neutral tones. We expect to see trends in 2018 that focus on green and brown, as well as white, red, orange and yellow. Gates Interior Design says to picture the earthy tones of the 70s and mid-century modernism. We’ll see a lot of warmth in color tones, as well as materials used. Huffington Post predicts heightened use of ruby red in design and décor.

Materials

There won’t be too much laminate in the homes of the future—instead, it’ll be a return to what was, with dark wood flooring and cabinets, cork, soft textiles, and lots of interesting lighting. Recessed lighting was all about lighting the room without noticing the light fixture, but now there will be a heavy design trend towards highlighting unique and striking light fixtures as a part of the room’s décor. Natural stone may be used as inspiration for flooring and walls, and you might see marble, granite and pebbles creating entryways and flooring.

Expect to see touches of recycled elements throughout luxury homes in 2018, with a trend towards sustainability and eco-friendliness. You’ll see unique furniture, decorations, and materials used.

2018 may also see more intricate and customized carpentry, which will be used to create both furniture and furnishings in the modern home.

Imperfection

The Huffington Post says to expect imperfection in your 2018 luxury home—but they aren’t talking about the building itself. Rather, the imperfection trend harkens back to the idea of coziness. Luxury homes next year won’t be the large, white unwelcoming mansions that they have been in the past with waxed flooring and gigantic staircases. Instead, they’ll be livable and welcoming, with imperfect décor and comfortable design. 2018 homes will welcome you in, and make you feel like snuggling up on the couch with a cup of coffee.

Bright Lights

Expect to see lighting incorporated into design in a very impressive way—gone are the days of recessed lighting; now, the lighting fixture will be a centerpiece for each room’s design. You can expect to see lots of chandeliers and interesting lighting fixtures, along with a lot of bright bulbs. 2018 will be all about a bright, welcoming, cozy home. Even if your new luxury home doesn’t feature chandeliers, you can expect that it will be extremely well-lit, and have big beautiful windows to let the sunshine in!

Luxury Homes on Fripp Island

Fripp Island is a very special place to visit, and if you’re familiar with the area then you know that there are lots of real estate options when it comes to luxury living. Whether you’re looking for a luxury beach cottage overlooking the waves, an impressive estate on the bay where your family can enjoy the island for generations to come, or an island abode perfectly suited to your summertime outdoor sports, Fripp & Harbor Island Properties is here to help.

John Lee, an experienced agent, has years of experience in the area, and has sold luxury properties to dozens of satisfied customers. Fripp Island and the surrounding areas is perfect for luxury investment properties, seasonal getaway homes, or your main residence.

If you’re interested in learning more about the luxury real estate market on Fripp Island, contact Fripp & Harbor Island Properties today by calling 843-575-2820 or emailing John Lee at john@fripprealestate.com. Happy (almost) New Year!

Why South Carolina is the Place to Hang it Up

The best places to retire can’t just be great places to live throughout your golden years, they also have to offer great value. As a retiree, you’re likely on somewhat of a fixed income– one that has to last you a lifetime. There are always less-expensive alternatives to the best-known retirement destinations, and many of these destinations are in South Carolina.

Boasting one of the lowest statewide tax requirements in the Union, low property taxes and no state estate tax, South Carolina is a perfect alternative to all the typical places you see people flocking to once they hit 65. A much more low-key lifestyle with less congestion than in Florida, SC not only has much more enjoyable summers, but very mild winters as well.

And when you are cashing in your chips for the beauty of the South, you are likely going to want to be as close to the ocean front as possible. The Atlantic Ocean waterfront in South Carolina is among the most affordable along the eastern seaboard. So if you are looking to stretch your retirement dollar further without having sacrifice quality of life, you should consider real estate along the eastern edge of the Palmetto State.

In addition to affordability, there are plenty of other welcoming facets to South Carolina. The pace of life down here is simply much more conducive to retirees. Everything from golfing to tennis to enjoying social circles and soaking up the sun are just the way of everyday life. And the cost of living is much more affordable, with a lower price tag on everything from groceries to utilities to taxes and real estate.

A Great Place to Vacation AND Invest

With so much to do packed onto the South Carolina barrier islands, vacationers and residents alike will be hard pressed to run out of things to, do day or night. This makes places like Fripp Island a top destination.

Thanks in great part to the laundry list of activity the area offers, and the tourism that follows, traveler will never stop flocking to the subtropical climate off the South Carolina lowlands. The southernmost South Carolina Sea Islands has a versatile list of options to partake in no matter what time of year. Averaging no colder than sixty degrees during the ‘cold’ months, any time of year is beautiful outdoors.

Offering vacationers’ access to the choice of two golf courses, 10 tennis courts and a total of six pools, this tiny, 3,000 acre Barrier Island is quite accommodating. And for those who like to slow the pace down and take it all in, there is some great bird and nature watching on the 3 ½ mile stretch of wildlife beach sanctuary. Companies also offer various salt and fresh water fishing charters.

And with about hundreds of rental units, Fripp Island is not only a vacationer’s playground, but also can be an investor’s potential golden egg. Not only is South Carolina real estate among the least volatile in the nation, the area around Fripp Island has witnessed the largest increases in the entire state throughout the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2014, with nearly 14% average returns.

Benefits of Owning a Vacation Home

Buying a second property located in a different area is more than just a getaway for you and your family during vacation time or inclement weather; it’s a serious future investment. This investment actually carries a lot more benefits than you would think as well, instead of the normative vacation spot everyone always thinks of immediately.

More often than not, the home that you live in year round will fluctuate assets in a short term and throughout the years, however, vacation properties are actually more likely to retain their value and appreciate because most times they’re located in popular areas. Along with this increased value over time, if you happen to rent out your property but keep it to no more than two weeks per year, the interest on your mortgage and property taxes are considered fully deductible from your gross income.

However, if you so choose to rent out your vacation spot all year round, you’ll lose out on the tax deductibles, but you’ll gain a ton of rental income from the people that are using your property for vacation. Sure, the thought of random people living in the house you bought for vacations isn’t ideal, but as long as they take care of it and nothing goes horribly wrong, you’re making good amounts of extra income just by owing a second home.

Over time, as you continue to head back to the same location for vacation getaways, you’ll start to gain familiarity with your place and with the area surrounding it. This will enable you to become comfortable with those living in the area, and give you the freedom to be yourself. This is especially great for those getting a head start to retirement because although we might love where we live currently, the option to pack up and move once you’re done working for good is always there with a second property.

Vacation Homes Are Worth It: Now & For Years To Come

Perhaps you’ve been considering buying a beach home for years, or it’s a new idea that just popped into your mind. Either way, you’re on the right track. The professionals at Fripp Island Real Estate have helped hundreds of buyers find the perfect piece of real estate and reap the significant benefits for years to come.

Purchasing a coastal home forever provides you and your family a place to vacation. The days of finding the best deal and booking hotels are over. A vacation home is available whenever you want to visit, with as many people as you want. You can keep belongings in your vacation home as well so there is very limited packing and lugging suitcases. You can also decorate your vacation home so when you arrive, it feels like home instead of arriving in a hotel room that is bland, boring and sometimes even uncomfortable.

Spending time away from home and work in your vacation property is also good for the mind and body. This home away from home provides you and your family and friends the opportunity to relax, reduce stress and enjoy sun and sand. Vitamins from the sun and humidity from the ocean air can help ease headaches, anxiety and even depression. It’s also reported that time spent on vacation can help professionals be more productive and lucrative when they return to work.

Another long-term benefit of purchasing a vacation home is that is can also be used as a rental property. During the times that you are not using the home, you can rent it to other vacationers. In fact, renting you property for only a few months a year can help pay for the entire mortgage. Well-kept, accessible vacation homes are always in demand for families that travel and don’t want to stay in a hotel.

If this article has caught your attention and got you thinking about a vacation home, Fripp Island Real Estate is a good place to start. Searching for and buying a second home can be overwhelming, but industry professionals can make the process quick and simple. Before you know it, you and your family will be reaping the benefits of a vacation home like always having somewhere to escape to, overall improved health as well as passive income from renting out the property throughout the year.

Fripp Island; A Cultured Island Steeped in History

Fripp Island, one of the most characteristic spots in South Carolina’s Sea Islands, is steeped in a rich history spanning the ages. Among the most remote and seaward of the Sea Islands, this tiny island community of only 3,000 acres off the coast of South Carolina is a year round destination for vacationers and locals alike.

Though Native Americans inhabited the Island for thousands of years prior, Fripp Island was first discovered by Europeans in the early 17th century. Fripp Island was named for the British Captain Johannes Fripp, charged with protecting Carolina from Spanish attacks throughout the mid-17th century. Pirates of the era are also suspected to have buried treasure off its shores, which is rumored undiscovered to this day. For about 200 years, the island mostly remained nothing more than a quiet private hunting range.

It wasn’t until World War II, Fripp Island real estate was seen as extremely valuable for defending American shores from Germany U-boats. The island hosted and housed mounted beach patrol from 1942 to the end of the war in 1945. For the hunters which frequented the island before the Coast Guard occupation, the remaining barracks following the war were welcome additions. They served as perfect hunting huts, serving as both shelter and camouflage.

It wasn’t until 1961 builders began developing Fripp Island real estate and in 1963 a bridge to the mainland was completed. This made the island much more accessible and ‘user-friendly.’ Today there are less than 1,500 privately owned homes and villas on the island. But there are more consistently under construction over the past decade and Fripp Island real estate is booming.

The rich history of Fripp Island has only contributed to the historic charm visitors enjoy. Enjoying everything from bird watching to beach going and sailing, Fripp Island is a vacationer’s dream. The mild winters, colorful falls and amazing summers beckon travelers from around the world to this historic and charming island any time of year.

First People on Fripp Island

This Article was written By Page Miller

John Lee

Among the first part-time residents were Bill and Dixie Winter. When they built the seventh house on the island in 1965, both were still working in Aiken, Bill at the Savannah River Plant as an engineer and administrator and Dixie as a teacher. They came to Fripp for weekends, and Dixie and their daughters came for the summer. Bill recalls that for the first few years they did not have a telephone at their Fripp house. When they would arrive on Friday evening, there would be a note tucked in their door telling them where the party would be that night. Fripp Island Real Estate

In few cases, the husband commuted to work while the wife established a full time residence on Fripp. This was the case this was the case with Gini and Griff Reese. When they moved to Fripp from New York in 1968, Gini retired from teaching music but Griff continued as a pilot for Pan Am Airlines. Since he had the long Asian routes, he had extended layovers on Fripp between flights. Goff, vision and the natural beauty of the island attracted them to Fripp. As often as three times a week, they would feast in the evening all seafood that they had, that day.

Another Sale of Fripp Island

This Article was written By Page Miller

Another Sale of Fripp Island

John Lee

Robert Graves, a commercial shrimper and supply preacher who lives on St. Helena Island, has fond memories from his boyhood of camping in hunting Fripp. One of the most exciting experiences was being chased by a wild hog and seeking refuge in the tree. The site of oh house, which by 1950s was no longer standing, once favorite spot for pitching their tents, for it was easily accessible and somewhat protected. He recalls fighting off mosquitoes with ample supply of bug spray and use of mosquito nets. In answer to the question of whether there were ever stills on Fripp; Gray said he had never seen any on Fripp speculated that the wild hogs would have eaten up the mash before it had time to become liquor.

On September 9, 1954, McLean lumber company sold Fripp Island for $40,000 to the Fripp Island Corporation, which was made up a group of 16 Beaufortonians who purchase it for a private hunting and fishing preserve. The group included local leaders such as Sheriff McTeer, Claude McLeod, Harold and John Tress, GG Downing and Bradley Harvey Sr., men who over the years had been hunting, fishing and camping on Fripp, many of them since childhood.

Beginning of Fripp as a Resort

This Article was written By Page Miller

Beginning of Fripp as a Resort

John Lee

The group of 16 never built any houses on Fripp, but they did sell timber rights. On September 3, 1957, they signed a timber deed with W H Green and EJ Schumpert. In return for $25,000, the Fripp Island Corporation sold the rights to cut all pine trees on Fripp Island having a stump dimension of 10 or more inches. The timber deed forbade cutting of any hardwood trees, place a limit on 24 months on the agreement and gave permission to cut needing roads and build a dock for the removal of the timber. Language in the deed also abolished Green and Schumpert to use due care to prevent damage or injury to the trees and timber not covered by the deed, encouraging them to make every effort to protect the wild game and wild life on the island. Fortunately, most of Fripp island remained a veritable jungle with a heavy growth of Saw palmetto, wax myrtle, Cedar, Oak, tall palmettos, many uncut giant pines and occasionally large Live Oak trees.

Within months all the 1959 termination of that timber deed, Fripp island Corporation begin the negotiations with developer Jack Kilgore for the sale of their hunting preserve. In reflecting on the years preceding the building of a bridge to Fripp, William Hardee McLeod declared, I feel I had the opportunity to enjoy the best of the last hunting and fishing in Beaufort County.